International travel and health

Menu

Tetanus

Vaccine

Tetanus vaccine is available as monovalent tetanus toxoid (TT), in
bivalent combination with diphtheria toxoid (DT) or low-dose
diphtheria toxoid (Td), or as trivalent vaccine that also includes
whole-cell (wP) or acellular (aP) pertussis vaccine.

In some countries, combination vaccines with hepatitis B,
Haemophilus influenzae type b and/or IPV exist. Vaccines containing
DT are used for children under 7 years of age and Td-containing
vaccines for those aged 7 years and over. Vaccine combinations
containing diphtheria toxoid (D or d) and tetanus toxoid, rather than
tetanus toxoid alone, should be used when immunization against
tetanus is indicated.

A childhood immunization schedule of five doses is recommended.
The primary series of three doses of DTP (DTwP or DTaP) should
be given in infancy, with a booster dose of a tetanus toxoidcontaining
vaccine ideally at age 4–7 years and another booster in
adolescence, e.g. at age 12–15 years. Those who have received the
primary series plus two booster doses, the last of which given in early
adulthood, are unlikely to require further doses.

All travellers should be up to date with the vaccine before departure.
The type of tetanus prophylaxis that is required following injury
depends on the nature of the lesion and the history of previous
immunizations. However, no booster is needed if the last dose of the
primary series, or of subsequent booster injections, was given less
than 5 years ago for dirty wounds or less than 10 years ago for clean
wounds.